News and views

Resurfacing, mole-like, after a tidal wave of family stuff has washed over me over the last few months - I'm now off to the FAIR! "Form" to be exact, at Olympia, from 28th February to 2nd March. It's a fine art/craft fair dedicated to super things - that's the PR anyway! There are the Redferns and the Rebecca Hossachs, but also a mediaeval sounding artists' quarter with, we hope, sharp art on sale. Stand AA15 for me with mantlepiece pots, wall discs, glazed pots and tree chokers, etc. read more...

Summer /Autumn Events

The new garden I've made at the Crafts Study Centre,Farnham,Surrey is getting into its stride nicely now,with the calamagrostis at the back projecting themselves onto the front wall of the building.A sea of Echiums has also erupted.French ones.More delights to follow with tall orange pompoms to replace them.Leonorus Leonitis I think it is.The oak sculpture settling in too. read more...

2007 New Horizons

2007. Well, waddaya know? This could be my year! Green is in and I've been green (in all sorts of ways...) for as long as I can remember. Once it was normal! Is there a coalescence of Monbiot, green gardening, alternative travel, carbon consciousness, organic shopping for those that can and "microtrading": buying from individual suppliers? I do hope so. This could be the year we've all been waiting for. Good Craft is just as good as good Food, so let's hope there is enough of it about to engage, delight, and unseat us all. read more...

Late Summer

Now that the rain has finally made an appearance the plants look so thankful in the yard here.Perovskia likes it dry anyway so that doesn't count,but the maize,acidantheras,gaura,leonorus leonitis,hibiscus etc. have bulked up nicely.There's a stunningly intense little italian larkspur(dark blue) that I've yet to discover a name for and the figs are joining the raspberries for sensational JAM (50/50).the american Heritage tomatoes are providing a great range for interesting salads (Ananas Noire,Purple Calabash etc.) and all the sicilian oleanders that I grew from seed are storming ahead now.
Onthe pot front there are some big jars coming up as well as a number of sizes of the Hawk 3 leg shallow planters.The English Garden magazine has an advert for my cowhorn sculpture "ZEBU" (£500) and is to run an article on me in the December issue I think.
At Farnham in Surrey the Crafts Study Centre has commissioned me to design/build a new garden for the frontage of their lovely building,so that's next on my list.I shall be doing a slide talk on it all there on Oct.15.
The Yew Tree Project at Salisbury Arts Centre (www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk) has spurred me on to make a shield sculpture which stands on three legs and is covered with yew slices.It's a sort of protection racket...
Otherwise a day course at West Dean (www.westdean.org.uk) on Sept.16 on sculpture in gardens;Jardinique Contemporary Art Show near Beech,Alton Oct,13/15 and the Brighton Crafts Fair onNov.23/26.
The farmer next door hopes we will have a nice back end.Well you do,don't you?

Events

November 2005 Crafts Study Centre,Farnham,Surrey. "Afrikmisik" honey glazed charger in"Transformations" exhibition,a show demonstrating a
acknowledged sources for the work.
December 2005 Crafts Council,London.Red mug and a three legged teapot (Chinese style) for "Table Manners" exhibition.
February 2006 Meeting of Hampshire group of Society of Garden Designers at
the pottery for tour and slide talk.
March 2006 West Dean College,Chichester:Exhibition of tutors' work.
May 26 2006 Victoria and Albert Museum,London:Special Friday Late evening for the Society of Garden Designers incorporating a workshop by JG on making sculpture for gardens."Garden Punctuation" exhibited.Some pots too.
May 27 to June 11 Dorset art weeks and Walford Mill,Wimborne 20/20 Show.Also Harold Hillier Arboretum Sculpture Show
June 24/25 West Dean Garden Show
July 1 Galanthus Gallery sculpture show,Hereford
July 2 Hampshire Fare Open Day at the pottery
September 16 West Dean College Day course on sculpture making
October 8/November 18 Yew Tree Project,Salisbury Arts Centre exhibition
October 13/15 Jardinique Contemporary Art Show,Beech,Alton
October 15 Slide talk on new garden,Crafts Study Centre,Farnham,Surrey
November 23/26 Brighton Crafts Fair